"I still have 50% of the shares in my hands. As long as we plan carefully, Lin Andong won't get his way so easily."
Jo Yong's voice was calm, but beneath it, a storm was brewing.
"Yes," she continued, "find a way to retrieve the shares in Lin Andong's hands. Even reclaiming 1% would tip the balance in our favor."
A helpless look flickered across Jo Ying's face.
"That's easy to say," she replied bitterly. "If we understand the value of that 1%, don't you think Lin Andong does too? If it were that simple, he wouldn't have gone to such lengths—ten years of scheming—to fool everyone."
Ten years.
The child they had nurtured, cared for, and raised for more than a decade—he was not even theirs.
He was Lin Andong's flesh and blood.
What could be more ironic than that?
In the past, Lin Andong might have feared the Jo family. But things had changed. Jo Ying recalled what Lin Shuang had mentioned about their pharmaceutical project—the development of a new drug. Another shiver ran down her spine.
"Dad… it's no use. Lin Andong isn't who he used to be."
Before Elder Jo could respond, Jo Ying quickly explained the details about the drug research.
Silence fell over the room.
Elder Jo slowly sat down on the sofa, his brows tightening into a deep frown. When he finally spoke again, it was no longer about Lin Andong.
"What about Lin Mo? How are things going on his end? When will he return to the Lin family?"
His voice was steady again, but there was a noticeable weariness beneath it.
Jo Ying straightened, drawing some strength from the question. But when it came to Yang Mo, her heart sank all over again.
To this day, even as her father asked about his biological son, he still referred to him as Lin Mo, not Yang Mo. They hadn't even bothered to update his account records or his legal name.
Wasn't that proof enough?
Deep down, they never truly accepted that child as one of their own.
Something twisted painfully in Jo Ying's chest. Still, she knew now wasn't the time to argue about it. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she started to recount everything that had happened recently.
The more Elder Jo heard, the darker his face grew.
"You're not a child anymore, Jo Ying. Why are you still so reckless in your decisions?" he snapped. "He wanted to sever ties, and you just let him sign the agreement? Do you even stop to think about why a child would choose to break ties with his parents? Do you think any child would do that unless he had been pushed to his absolute limit?"
Jo Ying was speechless, her lips trembling.
It was true. They had wronged Yang Mo.
Since his birth, they had failed him—no bank card, no pocket money, no driver, no special care. Lin Coen had everything. Yang Mo had nothing. And worse, every time a conflict arose, the family stood without hesitation on Lin Coen's side.
No wonder the boy's heart had gone cold. No wonder he wanted to leave.
"Dad… I'm sorry. I was wrong."
Tears welled up in Jo Ying's eyes.
"You call this regret?" Elder Jo scowled. "This is self-inflicted punishment. You brought this on yourselves. Even if he refuses to come back, you must find a way to make him change his mind. Right now, the big picture matters most."
"I'll handle Lin Andong," he continued. "As for Lin Mo, that's your responsibility."
Jo Ying bowed her head and nodded silently.
"Go. I need rest. Let me know when you have results."
Though his tone was cold, the sorrow in Elder Jo's eyes was impossible to hide.
Outside, Jo Ying walked out of the study with her head down. Her heart was heavy. Right now, the most pressing matter was getting Yang Mo back.
But he was clearly resistant. If they forced him, would it backfire?
Meanwhile, at school, the bell rang.
Gu DaFat, who had been napping on his desk, immediately jumped up and closed his books. With three energetic steps, he made his way to Yang Mo's seat.
"Don't stare at your textbook like that, class is over! Let's get some air," he said, grabbing Yang Mo's book without asking. "Didn't the teacher say staying cooped up in a classroom all day makes your brain short of oxygen?"
Yang Mo raised his head and gave him a flat stare.
"You only remember the teacher's advice when it involves goofing off," he said. "How come you never remember 'An inch of time is worth an inch of gold' or 'Cherish your youth'?"
"Geez, stop biting my ass," Gu DaFat laughed, throwing an arm around Yang Mo's neck. "Come on, let's go."
"Let go of me, you oversized panda," Yang Mo muttered, pushing him away.
Gu DaFat only laughed harder. "We call this brotherly love, my man."
Yang Mo rolled his eyes but still followed him to the playground.
It was recess. Students were scattered across the grounds—some walking, some chatting, others just soaking in the sunlight.
Yang Mo stood still, gazing quietly into the distance. There wasn't anything particularly interesting to look at. He simply needed to rest his eyes. Hours of reading had taken a toll.
Gu DaFat, standing beside him, followed his gaze and stood on his tiptoes.
"What the hell are you looking at? There's no pretty girl or breathtaking scenery over there. Close your eyes, man. Any more staring, and you'll go blind."
Yang Mo's lips curved into a small smile.
"Better blind than fat," he replied dryly.
Gu DaFat's eyes widened. "Says who? If we're talking fat, aren't you the skinniest guy in this school?"
Yang Mo chuckled softly. Just then, his phone buzzed.
He glanced at the screen—it was Jo Ying calling again. Without a second thought, he silenced it and shoved it back into his pocket.
Gu DaFat raised a brow. "What? The Lin family again?"
"Yup," Yang Mo replied, voice calm. "Trying to take me back."
Gu DaFat snorted. "Trying to win you back with phone spam during school hours? That's low."
A bitter smile touched Yang Mo's lips.
"Win me back…" he echoed. "That depends on whether I want to go back."
In the past, even a trace of concern from them would've made him melt. He'd have run to them eagerly, desperate for belonging.
But not anymore.
Not after reliving a life full of betrayal.
Now, the mere thought of being associated with the Lin family filled him with shame.
"I'm not related to them anymore," Yang Mo said quietly, more to himself than to Gu DaFat. "From now on, I'll walk my own path. I believe I can stand tall—without their support, without their approval."
There was no exaggeration in his words.
They came straight from the heart.